Security Guard Killed in Hit-And-Run at GVSU’s Allendale Campus
A security guard was struck and killed in a hit-and-run incident at Grand Valley State University’s Valley Campus in Allendale on Friday, October 16. The crash occured at 1:15 a.m. and 18-year-old Grand Valley State University student Jaisten Thomas was the alleged driver.
Debra Smith, 69, was a 30-year veteran of DK Security. She was working as a third-party contractor at the Allendale campus and was assigned to traffic control. According to a witness, a westbound Sedan struck Smith before driving off.
Around 3:00 a.m., officers found the car in question at a Taco Bell. The vehicle had sustained damage consistent with the crash, such as a dent in the hood and a crack in the windshield. The crack contained strands of fair-colored hair, matching Smith’s.
According to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Smith had been in the process of turning away a different, unauthorized vehicle at an access control checkpoint when the incident occurred.
“Some people are just such a big part of your life, your family, and your everyday moments that it’s hard to imagine a world without them,” her obituary reads. “Debby was one of those people.”
The family has requested that lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
